Old Dogs, New Tricks: The Olofsson and Perry Fantasy Revival

Victor Olofsson's Strong Start with Colorado

Victor Olofsson is off to a productive start in the 2025-26 season with the Colorado Avalanche, posting three goals and seven assists for ten points through his first 13 games. After signing a one-year contract worth $1.575 million in August following a 15-goal, 29-point campaign with Vegas last season, the 30-year-old Swedish winger has found himself in an intriguing situation. His success has been partly fueled by increased power-play opportunity, where he's proven to be a natural fit with his elite shooting ability and net-front presence.

The sustainability of Olofsson's fantasy value hinges entirely on his deployment. Colorado needs secondary scoring options throughout the lineup, and Olofsson's track record as a three-time 20-goal scorer makes him an attractive candidate for increased ice time. His career shooting percentage of around 13 percent suggests his current production is sustainable if he maintains consistent playing time. However, Olofsson's biggest challenge has always been staying in the lineup. He was frequently healthy scratched with Buffalo and dealt with injuries in Vegas, missing over a month early in the 2024-25 season. If he can lock down a top-nine role and continue earning power-play minutes, he has legitimate 20-goal, 45-point upside for fantasy managers. The risk lies in Colorado's depth potentially pushing him down the lineup or out of the rotation entirely.

Corey Perry Defying Age with the Kings

At 40 years old, Corey Perry has transitioned from Edmonton to the Los Angeles Kings for the 2025-26 season, and early results are encouraging. Through eight games, Perry has already notched five goals and three assists, demonstrating that his offensive instincts remain sharp. After posting 19 goals and 30 points in 81 regular-season games with Edmonton last season, followed by an impressive 10 goals in 22 playoff contests, Perry signed a one-year deal with Los Angeles worth approximately $2 million in average annual value. He missed the first six games of this season recovering from knee surgery but has returned without missing a beat.

Perry's fantasy appeal in 2025-26 stems from several factors. He's scored a goal in his 1,400th career game and has demonstrated remarkable net-front presence and power-play efficiency despite limited ice time averaging around 14 minutes per game. His 19.2 shooting percentage last season was unsustainably high, but his ability to convert chances in high-leverage situations remains elite. Perry has shown versatility throughout his career, transitioning from a Hart Trophy-winning primary scorer to a bottom-six contributor who can still deliver double-digit goals. With the Kings, he's expected to fill a fourth-line role with secondary power-play opportunities, though his intelligence and scoring touch could earn him occasional top-six minutes.

The Sustainability Question

For fantasy managers considering Olofsson, the decision comes down to risk tolerance. His 0.77 points-per-game pace through 13 games would project to roughly 63 points over a full season, which is obviously unsustainable given his role. However, if he settles into consistent top-nine minutes with power-play time, a realistic projection would be 15-20 goals and 35-45 points. The volatility comes from Colorado's ability to shuffle lines and Olofsson's history of falling out of favor with coaching staffs. He's a streaming option in most formats, with potential to be rostered in deeper leagues if the deployment remains favorable.

Perry's situation is more predictable but comes with obvious age-related concerns. His hot start shouldn't deceive fantasy managers into expecting another 19-goal campaign. A more realistic projection for the 40-year-old is 10-15 goals and 20-25 points, with value coming from power-play contributions and the occasional scoring burst. Perry's longevity and hockey IQ allow him to remain relevant, but Father Time catches everyone eventually. He's best suited for deeper leagues or as a late-round flier in standard formats. Both players offer intriguing value in specific contexts, but fantasy managers should temper expectations and monitor their situations closely. Olofsson represents high-risk, high-reward potential, while Perry offers safe, modest production with veteran reliability. Neither should be considered fantasy staples, but both could provide spot-start value or depth scoring throughout the 2025-26 campaign.